Pell Grant Application

The Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. The Pell Grant also supports low-income adults that are in the workplace, but want to return to school to upgrade their skills.

Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions, who can receive Title IV government funding. To qualify for Title IV funding, schools must meet the government funding requirements to receive federal student aid.

In order to be eligible for the Pell Grant, prospective applicants must complete the FAFSA, also known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA must be completed every year in order to be eligible to receive a Pell Grant in subsequent years. The FAFSA takes into account:

§ Current income§ Family assets§ Total family members in college§ Cost of Attendance§ Current EFC score

Once you complete and submit the FAFSA application, you will receive an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) score. This score will determine if you qualify for the Pell Grant. The EFC measures your family’s ability to pay for college. Your EFC score is calculated according to a formula established by law, which takes into account your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, current benefits, your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year.

The FAFSA can be completed either online or by paper application. Most students complete the FAFSA online, since it will be received by the Department of Education immediately and confirmation is sent instantaneously. All updated and changes to the online application can be completed online as well. In order to complete and submit the application, the student must have a FAFSA PIN, which is line an identification card. This FAFSA PIN allows students to submit, make changes, and file other financial aid documents all online.

Students will receive the SAR (Student Aid Report) one they Pell Grant Application (FAFSA) has been submitted and reviewed by the Department of Education. The SAR will be sent to you and your college’s financial aid office showing what financial aid options are available to you for the upcoming school year. The SAR will also you’re your EFC, Expected Family Contribution, which will determine if you qualify of a Pell Grant for the upcoming school year.

Federal Pell Grants are direct government grants for students who have not received their first bachelor's degree or who are enrolled in certain post baccalaureate programs that lead to teacher certification or licensure. All Pell Grant disbursements are made during the first few weeks of the new school term by the college’s financial aid office. Participating institutions either credit the Federal Pell Grant funds to the student's school account, pay the student directly (usually by check) or combine these methods. Students must be paid at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter); schools that do not use formally defined terms must pay the student at least twice per academic year.